New York Legal Services for Landlords

Legal Services for Landlords

Ezratty, Ezratty and Levine has been the premier provider of legal services and representation for landlords since 1992. We ably guide landlords through every step of the leasehold process to minimize complications and maximize profitability of all tenancies.

(1) We help landlords manage all nonpayment matters. Whether the situation requires a simple written demand for payment, or whether formal eviction proceedings must be initiated, we find the most effective and cost-efficient way to get you paid.

(2) Holdover tenants and lease renewals can cause ongoing problems for landlords. Rent stabilization and Section 8 subsidies also affect the requirements of lease renewals. We work with landlords to identify the appropriate renewal procedure and avoid holdover tenancy problems before they occur.

(3) New York landlords also have specific legal obligations with respect to security deposits. We help you implement effective security deposit procedures that will both ensure your compliance and reduce the likelihood of tenant disputes.

(4) Our attorneys work with landlords to draft and negotiate written leasehold agreements that meet the specific needs of each individual property. Preprinted forms are rarely sufficient to adequately protect a landlord’s interests. Instead, we identify the areas of greatest potential liability and importance to you, and ensure that a through leasehold agreement will protect you from these contingencies. We also ensure that your written lease agreements contain all required legal disclosures, and avoid illegal and unenforceable provisions.

(5) Landlords have specific legal obligations with respect to the safety and habitability of the leasehold premises. This includes issues regarding lead paint, crime prevention, pest control (including but not limited to bed bugs), mold prevention and management, structural and roofing defects, entrances, lighting in common areas, elevators, and utilities. While having obligations to repair and maintain these facilities, landlords also have obligations to respect tenants’ privacy and not enter leased premises without prior notice and consent—except where an emergency exists. We help you secure cost-effective compliance with these laws and resolve any disputes with tenants or housing authorities.

(6) Complete destruction of the leased premises can relieve a tenant of the obligation to pay any future rents due under the leasehold agreement. But what happens when the premises are only partially damaged due to fire, household accidents, or forces majeure? This creates a complicated legal situation in which a landlord has repair obligations…even if the tenant was liable for the damage that occurred. Ezratty, Ezratty and Levine will help you negotiate and litigate the situation as necessary to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

(7) Sublets and lease assignments are common areas of confusion and dispute between landlords and tenants. With an effective sublease provision and effective communication with tenants, our team will help you prepare for and manage sublets with minimal inconvenience, while maintaining a profitable occupancy.

(8) When a building is subject to rent control or rent stabilization, lease succession rights vest in the family members (and in certain circumstances, the nontraditional family members) of its tenants. An experienced attorney will help you prepare for this contingency and prevent tenants from attempting to exercise rights to which they are not entitled.

(9) Senior citizens, military personnel, and victims of domestic violence are all afforded special considerations for early lease termination under New York state law. Ezratty, Ezratty and Levine helps landlords negotiate and resolve these unique circumstances when they occur.

(10) Formal eviction proceedings are the result of a methodical process that requires strict compliance with New York State law, statute, and case law precedence at every step of the way. Landlords must bring a court action and obtain a formal judgment of possession. A marshal or sheriff must then enforce the judgment, and landlords who attempt to complete the evictions themselves are subject to a wide variety of sanctions. Our skilled attorneys will ensure that eviction proceedings are done correctly and executed as smoothly as possible. We help you complete the eviction process in the fastest, most cost-effective manner possible.

(11) After a tenant leaves—whether at the end of a lease term, due to eviction, or abandoning the premises—landlords have the precarious task of dealing with abandoned property. Unlike many states, New York has not codified specific obligations a landlord has with respect to abandoned property. Nonetheless, some case law on this issue declares that landlords aren’t necessarily entitled to simply dispose of abandoned property without notice. Our team will help you resolve abandoned property issues with minimal cost and inconvenience.

(12) Historical and preservation committees, housing boards, and local zoning ordinances can prevent landlords from leasing their premises at all. Let our experienced lawyers negotiate and litigate with local housing agencies to resolve disputes and lease your property as quickly as possible.

At Ezratty, Ezratty and Levine, we believe in the proven strategy of proactively identifying landlord and tenant issues to resolve disputes as quickly and easily as possible. Whenever possible, we resolve problems before they even occur. When problems do arise, we find the fastest and most cost-effective method of resolving all areas of dispute. Landlords have relied on the excellent service of Ezratty, Ezratty and Levine for twenty-five years. Learn how we can reduce your legal and financial liability, improve tenant relations, and reduce the stress of being a landlord by calling us at (516) 747-5566 or by using our online form.